For me it’s maximalism. Lovely in a quirky cafe or boutique hotel but at home it would give me a headache. I like a restful house and so yes quite a lot of it is grey! Not battleship grey or anthracite but bluey or greeny greys. Concrete floors. Depressing, cold, ecologically not great, look unfinished. Plants very high up. How do you water them? Walk in wardrobes even if it means the bedroom becomes tiny. I’d rather have a bigger bedroom with wardrobes in it, than dress and sleep in tiny spaces. Uber industrial. There’s a reason we usually hide cables, conduits, vent ducts...because they are ugly. Buying new furniture and accessories very often to have an “up to date“ look. I see all these instagram pictures with everything brass, mid century, wood, rattan, green (today’s trends) and I wonder what has happened to all their grey, painted, silver, shabby chic items from 5/10 years ago. And what will they do with today’s items when the look swings round again...

mrshste ... and I thought I was alone in disliking en suites for the same reason! I said this to a real estate agent yesterday and he looked totally confused ... like I was a martian from another planet ... it did make me laugh. I also agree with you re modern bland supposed minimalism ... although I love the original concept of minimalism which was anything but bland or even very white.

Boundsgreener, a woman with taste and a sense of humour. I like. Have picked one more tile sample and have ordered a box of two other different to tiles to give a better effect on the overall look. As for the table, my hubby has (in his past), made beds and tables. Fine, you might say, until not recently, he was studying (rather worringly, obssessively so) at pringle tubes. Yes, he thought he could make a table and use them as legs. Enough said. I am trying not to go there yet with the cabinets, I am just trying to concentrate on the tiles for the time being. Hubby is showing signs of great impatience (don't really blame him) and distress at present. I do love the blue, it is a south facing room, so it would work. I also quite like the mirror too. Wish the tub could be on the bucket list, but a bog (forgive the pun) standard, uber boring Lshaped bath is the only option, lack of space and the love of Mac Foundation (only removed by water, daughter not hubby) is the sensible option. Do take on boards what you say about colour choices, if you really think that none will date, plus I can always change the doors further down the line, even though they will be custom made (hubby), no pringle tubes hopefully, and a pain to fit a small space. Maybe you can see why hubby can become agitated, everything I like is a palver. Happy Days. Thank you so much. I would love it if you kept in touch,(am not stalker) as another viewpoint and advice is so gratefully received. Have a great weekend.

I predict there will be a continued appetite for pale/ white interiors which will fuel innovative ways of delivering this with more finishes and layered whites for interest. I think kitchen cabinets will stay pale but be available in silk or two textured finishes as they move away from gloss and lacquered finishes. Available woods will become paler and more Nordic. I think we will see more textured wall finishes such as wall panels and I think lighting will become more sophisticated allowing us to select warm or cool white from our lighting sources depending on outside light levels and time of day. I think the new metal will be burnished brass and available in kitchen handles, light switches and accessories. I predict a warm summer and inevitably greater spend on outside living with French chic plates and glasswear and more solutions to keep us in the garden with increased choices of patio heaters and soft lighting to enjoy lazy summer evenings and cooler mornings. Let's check in a years time and see if anything came true? I hope so. switches and accessories.